AKRON — Columbus, anyone?
The Browns will likely stage their entire training camp at their headquarters in Berea this summer, but after that they might take the show on the road, head coach Mike Pettine said May 19 before addressing the Akron Browns Backers.
Pettine coached previously as an assistant with the Ravens, Jets and Bills, and each of those teams leave their team facility for part of training camp.
“I would not be opposed to it,” Pettine said. “We’ve had discussions about it. It would be difficult in the first year to get that accomplished.
“I think there are benefits to both. (By leaving,) you compartmentalize the year where you’re in a different setting. I think it means something. It maybe requires a little more focus. You take them away from the comforts of home and get them away from family a little bit. They’re concentrating completely on football. But it’s quite an undertaking.”
The Browns have not trained away from their Berea complex since it opened in 1991. Prior to that, they spent 10 summers at Lakeland Community College.
Paul Brown’s teams trained at Bowling Green from 1946-51. The Browns were a fixture at Hiram from 1952-74 before moving to Kent State for the next seven years.
“It’s something we’ll discuss, and we’ve already had some preliminary discussions,” Pettine said. “It’s something I would say is a possibility in the future.”
When training camp opens July 26 in Berea, Pettine will be faced with the ticklish situation of making the quarterback competition between Brian Hoyer and rookie Johnny Manziel even. It is difficult to accomplish because one guy is working with the first offense, usually against the second defense, and that means the other guy has the second offense going against the first defense.
OTAs begin May 20. Pettine said Hoyer still has not been cleared for full 11-on-11 practice because he is still recovering from knee surgery in October. Defensive linemen will not rush in OTAs when Hoyer is at quarterback, but instead take a couple steps and stop to prevent “the potential of bodies flying around him,” to use Pettine’s words.
“You have to plan it very well,” Pettine conceded. “I actually had a meeting today with (offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains), and we discussed how we were going to handle the rotation initially and then moving forward.
“It’s something that they’re going to plan ... and chart it, who’s getting reps with this offensive line, with these tight ends, with these receivers, just to make sure that we’re getting a level evaluation on it.”
Other coaches have talked about open competition, but those plans quickly fall by the wayside. Pettine seems determined not to let that happen. Besides, Manziel and Hoyer are so competitive neither will let the deck be stacked.
“They’re ultra-competitors,” Pettine said. “They’re fighting for a job. It’s somebody you’re going to be working with. It’s a unique situation where you’re competitive; you want that job.
“Nobody’s going across the table yet in a quarterback meeting. They’re going to be friendly to each other, but it’s not going to be this warm and fuzzy. That to me is how you want your quarterback to be. The Peyton Mannings and the Tom Bradys probably aren’t the warmest and the nicest to the guys who are coming in trying to take their jobs.”Gordon practicing
Josh Gordon, facing an indefinite suspension for testing positive for marijuana, will participate in OTAs, Pettine said.
In the past, players to be suspended were allowed to participate in training camp and preseason. The suspension kicks in with the start of the regular season. Pettine said he does not know if that will be the case with Gordon.
“We haven’t heard anything from the league, so there’s nothing to act on,” Pettine said. “I think we’ll be better be able to answer those questions once we know what the situation is.”
Gordon led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards last year. On cutting Little
Cutting Greg Little as the Browns did last week seemed like odd timing, given the Gordon situation. Pettine said the issues are unrelated.
“It’s a separate situation,” Pettine said. “We evaluate each slot on that roster individually and it was a decision we made as an organization.
“While Greg Little might be talented enough to play in the NFL, we didn’t feel it was a situation that was best for the Cleveland Browns.”

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About the Author

Jeff has covered the Cleveland Browns since 1981. He also covers the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League and the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League. Reach the author at jschudel@morningjournal.com
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